David Lee: the secret weapon

David Lee: the secret weapon

David Lee: the secret weapon

David Lee: the secret weapon

The new generation of Golden State Warriors, one that has entertained fans and brought the first winning NBA team to Northern California in quite some time, has a secret weapon. This weapon might not be the dominant physical force of Wilt Chamberlain, who scored an NBA record 100 points as a Warrior against the New York Knicks in 1962. Nor is it the NBA legend and sharpshooter Rick Barry who made “granny” free throws all the way to an NBA Championship in 1975. The secret weapon is David Lee.

There are many out there who will argue that the newly-garnered success of the Golden State Warriors can be attributed to a litany of different factors: The key offensive player and newest NBA superstar Stephen Curry; his “Splash Brother” and lights-out-shooter Klay Thompson; the much anticipated return of Aussie big-man and former #1 overall draft pick Andrew Bogut; first-year Warrior defensive guru and high-flying dunker Andre Iguodala; or even the leadership of third year head coach and 17-year NBA veteran Mark Jackson.

All of those variables equal winning performances, but it has been Lee’s offensive efficiency and rebounding presence that has made him such an important cog for the success of the Warriors. Through January 20, Lee’s stats include 19.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 52 percent from the field. And during the team’s four-game winning streak that started on December 30, 2013, Lee averaged 24.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, good enough to be named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week. That includes a monster 32 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Lebron James and the reigning NBA Champion Miami Heat.

it has been Lee’s offensive efficiency and rebounding presence that has made him such an important cog for the success of the Warriors.

“Lee has been off the charts,” coach Jackson said to the media following that impressive Heat game. “He carried us at times tonight.”

Lee can be called the Warrior’s “secret weapon" since he has always flown under the radar, a wrinkle in the story that has always eluded this writer. Lee’s resume includes top awards at every level. He was a McDonald’s High School All American, a McDonald’s All American Dunk champion, and Mr. Show-Me Basketball player (awarded to the top high school basketball player in Missouri). He was named to the All-SEC Freshman team and Second Team All-SEC while playing at the University of Florida. And since he was picked in the first round of the NBA draft by the Knicks, he has been a three-time NBA All-Star (including the past two seasons), was named All-NBA Third Team in 2013 and was the NBA Rookie Challenge MVP in 2007.

Typically, an under-the-radar reputation in the NBA means a few things. You aren’t a dribble-between-the-legs-then-pull-a-360-dunk-to-get-on-Sportscenter guy. You constantly make all the right statements to the media and you don’t get in trouble off the court. Maybe he enjoys being under the radar in a world of constant media attention and scrutiny for professional athletes. For Lee, playing professional basketball isn’t about being famous, its just about playing basketball.

Typically, an under-the-radar reputation in the NBA means a few things. You aren’t a dribble-between-the-legs-then-pull-a-360-dunk-to-get-on-Sportscenter guy.

It was no surprise back in 2010 when the Warriors executed a sign-and-trade deal with the Knicks to obtain Lee and give him a whopping $80 million contract over six years. It was in fact Lee who torched the Warriors just months earlier with a stat line not seen in the NBA since Kareem Abdul Jabbar in 1976: 37 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists for the triple double.

While this stat line surprised everyone (especially me since I was in the stands that night), perhaps the least surprised were the Knicks fans, who in Lee’s five seasons with the team saw him consistently stuff the stat sheet like a clown car. In his final two seasons with the Knicks he averaged a double-double with points and rebounds, including his final season averages of 20.2 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

Providing a skill set that perfectly compliments the offensively talented Warriors' roster, Lee gives the team consistency and efficiency. Shooting over 50 percent from the field and grabbing almost three offensive rebounds per game, he is the Energizer Bunny that even the best NBA teams don’t want to face. He provides a work ethic on the court that opens up scoring lanes for Curry and takes the offensive pressure off big-man Bogut.

If the Warriors are going to find success in the playoffs, it will be with defense and hot shooting from their offensive weapons. They will also need a strong contribution from their secret weapon. Expect Lee to do what he’s always done, play great basketball.

Splash Brothers: Best Shooting Duo in NBA History?

By Mike Wagner

The Warriors starting guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson surged into 2014 with more three pointers made than the entire NBA had made all season. Their nickname, based on the “splash” looking movement the net makes when they swish jump shots into the basket, is sweeping the league. Head Coach Mark Jackson called this duo the best shooting backcourt in NBA history. This is respectfully compairing them to such great pairs including Jerry West and Gail Goodrich or John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek, to name a couple. The downpour of three pointers the Warriors have rained down these past two seasons has been record-breaking.

Here’s the skinny on Warriors backcourt that’s making such a big splash:

Big Play Klay

With the Warriors ability to shoot the ball they are never out of a game, mostly because they have the “shooters never say die” mentality.

For Golden State’s starting backcourt, head coach Mark Jackson has given them the green light to shoot from behind the arc, and to keep shooting. Curry is one of the NBA’s most respected scorers, but right on pace with “The Human Torch” is Curry’s counterpart, Klay Thompson. The Warriors starting two guards are the league’s rising stars, and have maintained a 41 percent, 3-point percentage. Together, the two guards put up more than 9 three-pointers per game combined, and neither of them has faltered as they are each on pace to make over 300 three-pointers this season.

Unlike Curry, Thompson has had a tougher time finding the spotlight around the league, but is quickly making a name for himself. His rookie year he earned First Team All-Rookie Honors in 2011-2012 after being selected 11th overall. With Thompson’s draft selection, Coach Jackson revamped the roster and transformed the backcourt into what he deems the best starting backcourt to play the game.

The 24-year-old sharpshooter in just his third season is recognized as one of the best at playing the perimeter game and running the baseline off multiple screens to get an open look. Thompson leads the league with 9 catch-and-shoot points per game and coincidentally enough covers the most ground. This season, the shooting guard has logged over 110 miles running in game play, averaging over 2.7 miles per game. Soon to be nicknamed “Running Man,” it is no wonder he records the numbers he does, and why the Warriors backcourt is considered one of the best.

Thompson may always be known as the younger, unrenowned of the two “Splash Brothers,” but he is making a strong case for why he is one of the best shooting guards in the Association.

Hungry for Curry?

Going to a Warriors game? Get there early. This stacked team of the Warriors will put on a show. Even before the game begins, Stephen Curry will put on a show.

As you watch the team warm up, your eyes will eventually gravitate to the shooting display that Curry will inevitably show you. Shot-after-shot-after-shot goes in the basket. Behind the three-point line, then a little further, then a little further, the ball just keeps going in the basket until he is basically shooting from half-court. He misses one shot and he has a look of disgust on his face. He expects to make every shot.

At the ripe old age of 25-years-old, Curry is already making an impact in the minds of the historians and his peers. Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar and the NBA’s current leading scorer, thinks Curry is the best shooter to ever play the game. When asked by a fan on Twitter whether he or Curry would win a three-point shooting contest, he replied “Steph any day, best shooter to ever play."

Curry is taking the league by storm this season, averaging 24.5 points, nine assists and 4.5 rebounds per game on his way to being voted as a starter in the 2014 NBA All-Star Game. It’s quite the feat for a player who was regarded by many as being too small for the NBA. He didn’t verbally respond to his critics. He let his game do the talking. He busted out of the gate of his NBA career averaging 17.5 points, 5.9 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game his rookie season.

The presence of Head Coach Mark Jackson has had a great impact on Curry’s game, limiting his turnovers as the team’s point guard and giving him the confidence to let his long-range shooting rain down on their opponents.

At 23 feet, nine inches, the NBA three-point arc is very far away from the basket. Not far enough for Curry. His career three-point shooting percentage of 44.6 percent is astounding, considering the all-time NBA leader is career field goal percentage is Steve Kerr with a 45.4 percent average.

If Curry can keep sinking those long-range shots, he will continue to put on a show for his fans, from the pregame warm ups all the way to the NBA Hall of Fame.